Lupins
Summer
It’s the first full day of summer here in Port Maitland, and the cycle of the year can be observed if one looks.
The sun set last night far to the north of where it will set as it now works its way back to the south. The lupins, as seen in the image this week, are in bloom and spreading along the roads and in abandoned farm fields, and the beach roses are at their fragrant peak. The birds are cheerfully singing every morning and the deer are now coming out of hiding with the young ones in tow.
But there are changes, and many not for the better. Last week just across the Bay of Fundy from us in New England, heat records were set that broke records that had been in place for a long, long time. The US and most of Canada just got through the warmest May on record. We also set records here in Eastern Canada for the least amount of precipitation for the month of May as well. Not good. Also not good is that the bird feeders have had to come down because of the avian parasite trichomoniasis that is now present once again, as in last summer, which impacts finches especially heavily.
If we observe summer and all its beauty, we need to also observe the impact that humans have on the planet and the changes we wreak on our shared habitat. Summer is a season many look forward to and which most of us enjoy thoroughly. But we need to also be aware constantly that our lives have an impact on the planet. Perhaps we need to also become more aware of how our actions could effect our children and grandchildren’s summers to come. And act now to lessen the damage.
